Chapter 545: Four Ranks Higher

The waters of the Yangtze were no longer as abundant as in years past. Gone was the heart-shaking roar, the towering, muddy waves that once seemed capable of swallowing heaven and earth. Now, it was as though the river had transformed—from a wild maiden brimming with primordial force into a gentle, composed matron. It flowed on with quiet grace, serene and unhurried, its surface gliding like silk beneath the pale morning light.

Under the watchful eyes of the officials, Zhu Ping’an followed the crowd, stepping off the passenger boat and onto a makeshift bamboo raft that had been hastily assembled to connect to the riverbank. The early morning breeze carried a faint chill, brushing against his face, laced with the heavy, unmistakable scent of river water and fresh fish—a raw, earthy smell that clung stubbornly to the air.

The riverbank was already packed with people—men and women, young and old alike. They jostled and shoved, pressing forward in a dense mass, craning their necks as far as they could, pointing and whispering among themselves. To an outsider, it might have seemed as though some rare treasure had surfaced from the depths of the Yangtze. If not for the yamen runners struggling to maintain order, it was likely that more than a few curious onlookers would have been pushed straight into the river by the surging crowd.

Out in the water, several strong swimmers—clearly skilled in navigating the currents—moved back and forth under the direction of a handful of officials, casting and hauling nets in methodical sweeps, their figures cutting through the river like darting shadows.

“My husband… where is my husband? Where are you…?”

A heart-wrenching cry pierced through the noise.

Near the water’s edge knelt a young married woman clad in a pale pink brocade dress. A white jade hairpin shaped like a plum blossom adorned her hair, now slightly disheveled. She leaned forward by the river, her delicate face streaked with tears, her sobs breaking uncontrollably, like petals battered by rain. Behind her, a maidservant knelt as well, her expression equally stricken, silently weeping alongside her mistress.

Several older women stood around them, offering words of comfort and gentle restraint, their hands hovering nervously, afraid the grieving woman might lose all sense and throw herself into the river.

A county magistrate stood nearby, his presence firm amid the chaos. He appeared to be in his late thirties, perhaps nearing forty, and was directing the officials and runners with calm efficiency. His face was thin, his features sharp, and he wore a dark blue official robe. On the embroidered patch upon his chest was a depiction of a waterfowl—yet the garment itself bore two carefully sewn patches, evidence of wear. The stitching was fine and meticulous, clearly the work of a woman’s hand. The robe had faded somewhat from repeated washing, but the man himself was impeccably clean, every detail of his person neat and orderly.

At this moment, the magistrate stood straight as a pine, one hand stroking his chin as he gazed out at the river, his brows slightly furrowed in thought, as though trying to unravel a difficult knot.

“What’s the meaning of this? They just forced us off the boat without explanation! We’ve got urgent matters to attend to!”

“Exactly! These officials don’t care about the lives of common people at all!”

As Zhu Ping’an and the others made their way toward the riverbank, disgruntled voices rose from the crowd. Many cursed under their breath, their frustration boiling over. They had all been in a hurry, each with their own pressing concerns, and now they were abruptly stranded here—how could resentment not build?

“Shh! Keep your voice down—are you trying to get yourself killed? If they hear you, you’ll be lucky to escape a beating!” someone whispered urgently, glancing nervously toward the magistrate and the armed officials nearby.

The warning had its effect. Though their anger remained, most people swallowed their complaints, casting resentful glances toward the officials, their dissatisfaction now expressed only through tight jaws and simmering eyes.

“When can we leave? I have to get to Yingtian Prefecture to find a doctor for my father. I might be able to wait, but he can’t!” A young man supporting an elderly figure beside him could no longer hold back his tears, his voice cracking with desperation.

“Sigh… just have the old man hold on a little longer.”

“Better to wait than offend the authorities. If you anger them, you might lose your life—what use would seeking treatment be then?” others offered quiet, helpless consolation.

“I’m supposed to sit for the academy examination in Yingtian! If I don’t make it in time, ten years of studying will all be for nothing!” cried a scholar dressed in simple robes, a travel pack slung over his shoulder. He stood on tiptoe, straining to see what lay ahead, his face etched with anxiety.

“My wife’s about to give birth—I have to get back as soon as possible!” another man exclaimed, so agitated he looked as though he might leap into the river and try to swim home himself.

For a moment, the crowd’s emotions surged like a rising tide—frustration, fear, urgency, all colliding in a restless storm.

Walking among them, Zhu Ping’an could clearly feel the weight of their anxiety. The closer they drew to the riverbank, the quieter their voices became, yet the tension only intensified, pressing down on the crowd like an invisible force.

Let’s see what exactly has happened, he thought to himself, his gaze sharpening. If possible, perhaps I can help get things moving sooner. At the very least, they should make exceptions for those truly in urgent need.

With that in mind, he quickened his pace slightly, weaving through the crowd until he reached nearer the front.

“Everyone, stand to the side in an orderly manner! Once we finish handling this case, you’ll be allowed to continue your journey. Zhang, a prominent merchant from Chun’an County, was on his way to Yingtian this morning to purchase goods and may have been murdered here. All passing ships and nearby individuals are under suspicion. We ask for your cooperation in the investigation. Once it is complete, you will be free to proceed.”

An official announced this loudly while scrutinizing the passengers who had disembarked, his sharp eyes sweeping across their faces.

“If it was a murder, it must have happened before dawn! At that time, our ship was still far from here—how could we be suspects?”

“Exactly! We were miles away, drifting along the river—how could it possibly be us?”

“You can’t just accuse innocent people like this!”

The explanation only stirred the crowd further. How had a simple journey by boat turned them into suspects in a murder case? The more they thought about the timeline, the more unjust it seemed—as though they had suffered a grievance greater than that of Dou E herself.

“Silence!”

The official slammed the metal implement in his hand against the side of the boat with a sharp clang, his voice cutting through the noise like a blade.

Faced with his authority—and the weapons at his side—the crowd fell quiet once more, though resentment lingered heavily in the air. Ordinary people, after all, did not dare openly defy those in power.

“The killer may have hidden in the water after committing the crime, then secretly boarded your vessel when it passed, blending in among you. Alternatively, someone among you may be an accomplice. Anyone who passed through this area is under suspicion.”

“Our men are currently retrieving the body from the river. Nets have been set downstream to prevent it from being carried away. Until the body is recovered, all vessels are prohibited from proceeding.”

Having offered this further explanation, the official turned away, issuing orders for the runners to keep watch over the disembarked passengers before striding off toward another detained ship.

In addition to Zhu Ping’an’s vessel, two other boats had also been forced to dock. Their passengers were equally outraged, their dissatisfaction with the authorities’ actions echoing loudly.

“Make way! I am a Fifth-Rank Tongzhi of Hangzhou Prefecture! Call your superior to come see me at once. If my official duties are delayed, who among you will bear the consequences?”

Suddenly, an indignant voice rang out from nearby, sharp and domineering. A subordinate accompanying the speaker shoved aside an official without hesitation, his attitude arrogant as he demanded that the county magistrate be summoned. Clearly, he too was deeply displeased at being forced to stop.

“May I ask if Your Excellency carries official credentials? We would need them to report to the magistrate,” the official replied cautiously.

“Open your eyes and look carefully!” the Tongzhi snorted, pulling out an official document from his robes and displaying it with a flick.

“This humble one deserves death for the offense—please forgive me, Your Excellency!” The official immediately dropped to his knees upon seeing it.

“Go and summon your magistrate,” the Tongzhi said, flicking his sleeve impatiently. “Clear the river at once so that I may proceed.”

Before long, the county magistrate who had been standing by the river approached with several clerks in tow. The clerks quickly knelt in greeting before the Tongzhi, but the magistrate merely cupped his hands in a formal salute, offering a respectful yet restrained acknowledgment.

“This subordinate greets Your Excellency.”

On both sides, the clerks knelt low, yet the magistrate alone remained standing—upright and unyielding, like a mountain-shaped brush rest set firmly in place.

“Oh? You dare stand so stiffly before me?” the Tongzhi mocked, his tone edged with disdain.

“If we were within the county office, I would naturally observe the proper etiquette of a subordinate,” the magistrate replied evenly, his expression composed. “However, this is not the yamen, and a murder case has occurred here. I am bound by duty and cannot perform full ceremonial rites at this time.”

His voice was calm, steady as still water, unruffled by the superior rank of the Tongzhi. Not the slightest ripple of fear or hesitation showed upon his face.